Oil, Treasurys and Gold Surge as Investors Seek Havens

Prospects of International Military Action in Syria Rattle Markets

The prospect of a U.S. military strike against Syria rattled global financial markets Tuesday, with investors selling shares and bidding up the prices of crude oil, gold and government bonds in an effort to reduce risk.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 158 points, or 1%, to 14788 in midafternoon trading. The S&P 500 stock index was down 1.5% to 1632. Oil futures rose about 3% and gold 2%, while the yield on the 10-year U.S....